Finish means for building materials



uly zo 1926. 1,593,297'

J. C. GILMER FINISH MEANS FOR BUILDING MATERIALS Filed March 14, 1924 lll/0 Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES JAMES C. GILMER, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FINISH MEANS For. marianne MMERIALS.

Application med March 14, 1924. serial No. 699,192.

This invention relates to methods and means for producing an attractive and desirable finish on building materials and wall members such as bricks, blocks, tiles, panels .and the like, and especially to a. structural improvement for such materials, including finish bricks in particular.

Heretofore bricks andsuch devices have been faced with enamel formed directly upon and substantially integral with the body of the brick. This has been subject to certain limitations and defects, both in the process of manufacture and subsequent use and service under various conditions.

The .main objects of this invention are to provide an improved constructionl and method. of manufacture for bricks, blocks, tiles, panels and the like, where a durable 'high grade inishiface is desired, as for instance enamel or japan; to provide for assembling and combining preformed finish plates with various forms of building blocks either preformed or formed with the plates IIattached thereto; to provide for separately lfinishing a face plate in any desired manner before attachment to or assemblage with the main body of the brick or other building member, of which it may usually well be substantially an integral part when finished; to provide building blocks, bricks, or the like, of very light material, comparable to wood or papier-mch, and faced withcomplementary plates finished with enamel, japan, "bakelite, or the like; to provide bricks, etcetera, having complementary enameled or -japanned finish plates of any suitable mater1al,. preferably fire-proof, adapted for interlocking attachment thereto, whereby the bricks proper and the finish plates may be made separately and subse quently assembled, either before or after the bricks have been set in a Wall or other building Structure; and to provide finish' plates of improved structure, character and form for use as herein set forth, and adapted to withstand rough usage, weather, acids, fumes, etcetera.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown by the accompanying.draw ings, in which- Fi re 1 isa perspective view of a brick whic may be made of concrete or any composition desired and provided with an interchangeable face plate having a finished surface.

, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section at 2-2 on Fig. 3, through the brick of Fig. l, illustrating how the face plate may be attached.

Fig. 3 is a transverseA section at 3-3 on Fig. 2. I

Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary corner detail of a form, partly in longitudinal section, in which they plate has resilient end lugs adapted to be sprung into apertures in the end of the brick in assembling the body and plate.

Fig. 5 shows 4a fragmentary corner of a brick having a permanently secured plate which may be attached to the brick' in molding, and provided with an interchangeable face plate formed at its edges to interlock With the first mentioned plate.

Fig. 6 shows a corner of a brick provided with a permanent-ly secured plate having a hollow lug of special form, and a finish plate detachably secured by mea-ns of a resilient arm projecting into said lug for interlocking therewith.

In the structural embodiment shownin h position having a finish surface and may Well include a l'ayer of japan, enamel or other material adapted for the purpose and preferably capable of manufacture in various colors as maybe required.

Figs. 2` .5to 5 and 7 illustrate different forms of finish plates adapted to be molded of cast metal, as for instance iron. In the embodiment of" Fig. l the,,brick body 4 is formed with apertures 5 adapted to receive the resilient lugs 6 of the face plate 7, each of said lugs having a shoulder` or catch part 8 to enga e a corresponding shoulder 9 on the brick ody.

Referring to Fig. 4, the interchangeable plate 26 is provided with a resilient end lug 27 having an inwardly turned tip 28 adapted to tit in the aperture 29 of the body 30.

g3 rasage? The embodiment shown in Fig. 5 includes a body part 31 having a foundation plate 32 permanently secured thereto by means of a lug 33 integral with said plate and struck up therefrom, in combination with a face plate 34 formed with inwardly turned edges 35 to embrace the overhan ing edges 36 of said base lat-e. ai inwardly turned edges preferab y extend only on two opposite sides so that the finish plate may be applied by endwise movement relative to the plate 32.

In Fig. 6 is shown a molded body member 37 having a foundation plate 38 permanently secured thereto by means of hollow lugs 39 set in said body. A finish plate 40 is demountably secured to said foundation plate by means of resilient lugs 41, formed,

to yieldingly engage lugs 39 which lugs 39 and 41 are formed to interlock as at 42.

It is apparent that any desired coloring l 'and a metalllc. faceplate having a non-coreifect may becarried out, and that various designs may be effected consistent with the shape and size of the blocks used, the face plates being variously colored in accordance with the requirements in any particular instance. It will be apparent in View ofFig. 6 that the .ornamental design may be changed whenever desired by removing the resiliently held face plates 40, or part of them, and rearranging same or substituting plates of different colors.

One lof the main artistic advantages of using finish plates such as .l describe arises from the enamel and the metal, for instance iron, having substantially the same coefficient of expansion, by reason of which cracking, checking and chipping off of the finish is avoided. This is a serious difiiculty with ordinary enamel faced tiles and bricks inclined y judicious se-l lection of colors very pleasing decorative designs may be accomplished for the home, as well as for theoce.

The sanitary character of 'such bricks render them especially desirable for finishing interiors forlrestaurants, dining rooms, bathrooms and such places.

Although several embodiments of this invention are herein shown and described it is -and a mechanically retained structurally distinct complementary face plate of metal having a finish surface of enamel thereon. 2. A wall member comprising a body part its face, said wall comprising a plurality of blocks each having an interchangeable face plate characterized by a specic color, the several blocks and plates having interfitting mutually releasable connective means, and the Wall design being variable by substituting different face plateshaving appropriate co o rs for the several blocks. Signed at Chicago this 12th day ofMarch,

JAMES o. encima toV 

